Communications terminal, server, playback control method and program

ABSTRACT

A communications terminal is provided, which includes a reading device which reads in access information recorded on a prescribed recording medium, the access information being necessary for acquiring content which can be played back by a playback device from a prescribed server via a network; and a playback control device which controls the playback device and the reading device. The playback control device controls receiving the content and metadata from the server, and playing back the content according to the metadata, if the content corresponding to the read access information is not stored in the storage device when the reading device reads in the access information; and the playback control device controls playing back the content stored in the storage device according to the metadata stored in the storage device in association with the content, if the content corresponding to the read access information is stored in the storage device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/022,109,filed Feb. 7, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/359,726, filed on Jan. 26, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No.7,907,563, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/166,381filed Jun. 27, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,502,344, which claims priorityfrom Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2004-188480 and 2004-188481, filedJun. 25, 2004, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a communications terminal, server,playback control method and program, and more particularly, to acommunications terminal which acquires content via communications, aserver which provides the content to the communications terminal bycommunications, and a method and program for controlling playback of thecontent.

2. Description of the Related Art

Mobile telephones which download various types of content, such asimages, sound information or text information, via radio communications,and then playback such content, have become widespread.

Incidentally, it is known that two-dimensional barcodes, such as a QRcode (registered trademark), are used when downloading content.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-118680discloses a method that a general user can obtain readily detailedinformation relating to an advertisement placed on a network, by readsthe two-dimensional barcode, which is printed on an advertising mediumdistributed to the general user, into a mobile telephone of the generaluser.

On the other hand, it is also known that the playback of content isrestricted.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-203070 discloses amethod that confirms whether or not the decryption key is present in ahome memory when an encrypted content is received from a server, andthen requests the decryption key from a server if the decryption key isnot present.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-94500 discloses adevice that reads in conditions for which playback of data is permitted,such as the devices, date and time, time period, and the like, from arecording medium in addition to the data to be played back, and thenpermits or restricts the playback of the data which is read from therecording medium in accordance with the conditions read in from therecording medium.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-123801 discloses asystem which defines conditions, reception restrictions, and the like ona broadcasting side, delivers the definition details together withcontent to a receiving side by broadcast, and then controls for viewingor listening to a viewer or listener according to the definitiondetails, so as to protect the copyright of the creator.

However, when playing back content, which is downloaded corresponding totwo-dimensional barcode from a prescribed server by reading in atwo-dimensional barcode to a mobile telephone, on the mobile telephone,the user has to wait from the start until the end of downloading thecontent, generally.

Particularly, when the content is downloaded via radio communications,it takes considerable time to access the relevant server and downloadthe content, compared to wired communications. Therefore, there is aproblem in that a long waiting time is required until the content startsto be played back. In addition, the radio communications by a mobiletelephone depends on the communications environment, and then it may notbe possible to download content depending on the communicationsenvironment. Therefore, it may not be possible to playback the content.

Furthermore, a moving image playback device, conventionally, stores apermitted frequency of playback and the playback validity term withinthe moving image content, in the case in which the playback is limitedin terms of the permitted frequency of playback and the playbackvalidity term. In the case in which a permitted frequency of playbackand a playback validity term are stored inside the moving image contentin this manner, when the permitted frequency of playback or the playbackvalidity term are to be changed, it become necessary to recreate theactual moving image content. If the moving image content is thenrecreated, it becomes necessary to download the moving image content tothe playback device, again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been implemented taking into account the abovedescribed circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide acommunications terminal, a server, a playback control method and programthat can prevent the occurrence of redundant communications between acommunications terminal which receives and plays back content, and aserver which transmits content.

In order to attain the aforementioned object, the present invention isdirected to a communications terminal comprising: a playback devicewhich playbacks content; a reading device which reads in accessinformation recorded on a prescribed recording medium, the accessinformation being necessary for downloading the content which can beplayed back by the playback device, via a network; a communicationsdevice which downloads via communications the content corresponding tothe access information according to the access information read in; astorage device which stores the downloaded content, the storage devicestoring details of the access information in association with thecontent, the details of the access information being used in downloadingthe content; a judging device which judges whether or not the contentcorresponding to the read access information is present in the storagedevice, according to information which is stored in the storage device,when the access information is read in by the reading device; and acontrol device which controls the playback device, the reading device,the communications device, the storage device, and the judging device,wherein: if the judging device judges that the content is present in thestorage device, the control device controls for acquiring the contentcorresponding to the access information read in from the storage device,and for playing back the content; and if the judging device judges thatthe content is not present in the storage device, the control devicecontrols for downloading the content corresponding to the accessinformation read in, and for playing back the content.

According to the present invention, it is possible to judge whether ornot content corresponding to the access information is present in thestorage device, according to the access information read in. At thattime, if the content is present in the storage device, the content isplayed back without downloading by means of the communications device.Therefore, it is possible to reduce the waiting time until starting toplay back the content, while reducing communications costs.

Preferably, the reading device reads in at least one of the accessinformation in a form of a two-dimensional barcode which is printed onthe recording medium, information which is stored on an IC tag attachedto the recording medium, and digital watermark information which iscontained in an image printed on the recording medium.

Preferably, the information stored in the storage device in associationwith the content contains at least one of a URL (Uniform ResourceLocator), identification information corresponding to the content, and acombination thereof.

The present invention is also directed to the communications terminalfurther comprising a display device which displays an error message inat least one of cases as following: (1) a case in which the storagedevice does not have spare capacity to store the content which is to bedownloaded when downloading content, (2) a case in which the terminal isout of a communications range, and (3) a case in which download of thecontent is halted.

The present invention is also directed to the communications terminalwherein: the storage device stores the details of the read accessinformation, in at least one of cases as following: (1) a case in whichit is not possible to start download of the content, and (2) a case inwhich download of the content is halted; and the control device controlsfor starting download of the content according to the information storedin the storage device even if the access information is not re-read in.

In order to attain the aforementioned object, the present invention isdirected to a playback control method which controls a prescribedcommunications terminal for downloading content which can be played backby the communications terminal from a prescribed server via a network,and playing back the downloaded content; comprising the steps of:reading in access information necessary for downloading the content, theaccess information being recorded on a prescribed recording medium;storing the downloaded content into a prescribed storage device insidethe communications terminal, by using the read access information;storing details of the access information into the storage device inassociation with the downloaded content, the details of the accessinformation being used in downloading the content; judging whether ornot the content corresponding to the read access information is presentin the storage device according to information stored in the storagedevice, when the access information is re-read in; and playing back thecontent corresponding to the read access information which is stored inthe storage device, if it is judged that the content is present in thestorage device.

The present invention is also directed to the playback control methodfurther comprising a step of: displaying an error message, in at leastone of cases as following: (1) a case in which the storage device doesnot have spare capacity to store the content that is to be downloadedwhen downloading content (2) a case in which the terminal is out of thecommunications range, and (3) a cases in which download of the contentis halted.

The present invention is also directed to the playback control methodfurther comprising the steps of: storing the details of the read accessinformation, in at least one of cases as following: (1) a case in whichit is not possible to start download of the content, and (2) a case inwhich download of the content is halted; and executing a download of thecontent according to the information stored in the storage device, evenif the access information is not re-read in.

In order to attain the aforementioned object, the present invention isdirected to a computer readable medium having embodied thereon acomputer program for processing by a computer, the computer programcomprising: a first code segment for reading in access informationnecessary for downloading the content, the access information beingrecorded on a prescribed recording medium; a second code segment forstoring the downloaded content into a prescribed storage device insidethe communications terminal, by using the read access information; athird code segment for storing details of the access information intothe storage device in association with the downloaded content, thedetails of the access information being used in downloading the content;a fourth code segment for judging whether or not the contentcorresponding to the read access information is present in the storagedevice according to information stored in the storage device, when theaccess information is re-read in; and a fifth code segment for playingback the content corresponding to the read access information which isstored in the storage device, if it is judged that the content ispresent in the storage device.

The present invention is also directed to the medium the computerprogram further comprising: a sixth code segment for displaying an errormessage, in at least one of cases as following: (1) a case in which thestorage device does not have spare capacity to store the content that isto be downloaded when downloading content (2) a case in which theterminal is out of the communications range, and (3) a cases in whichdownload of the content is halted.

The present invention is also directed to the medium the computerprogram further comprising: a seventh code segment for storing thedetails of the read access information, in at least one of cases asfollowing: (1) a case in which it is not possible to start download ofthe content, and (2) a case in which download of the content is halted;and an eighth code segment for executing a download of the contentaccording to the information stored in the storage device, even if theaccess information is not re-read in.

The present invention is also directed to the medium wherein the mediumis a propagated signal.

The present invention is also directed to the medium wherein thepropagated signal is a carrier wave.

In order to attain the aforementioned object, the present invention isdirected to a communications terminal, comprising: a playback devicewhich playbacks content; a reading device which reads in accessinformation recorded on a prescribed recording medium, the accessinformation being necessary for acquiring the content which can beplayed back by the playback device from a prescribed server via anetwork; a content requesting device which requests the contentcorresponding to the read access information, from the server; areceiving device which receives metadata together with the content fromthe server, the metadata containing playback control information for therequested content; a storage device which stores the received contentand the metadata in a mutually associated condition; and a playbackcontrol device which controls the playback device, the reading device,the content requesting device, the receiving device, and the storagedevice, wherein: the playback control device controls for receiving thecontent and the metadata from the server, and for playing back thecontent according to the metadata, if the content corresponding to theread access information is not stored in the storage device when thereading device reads in the access information; and the playback controldevice controls for playing back the content stored in the storagedevice according to the metadata stored in the storage device inassociation with the content, if the content corresponding to the readaccess information is stored in the storage device.

Preferably, the playback control information contains at least one of afrequency of permitted playback and a validity term of playback relatingto the content.

According to the present invention, metadata, including playbackconditions information such as a permitted frequency of playback and theplayback validity term, is created in the server separately from contentsuch as sound information or moving images, and then the metadata issent to the communications terminal together with the content.Therefore, it is possible to control playback of content in thecommunications terminal according to the metadata when thecommunications terminal has requested the content. In addition, if themetadata is changed in the server, the content is not affected at all.Furthermore, since the content is not acquired from the server each timethe access information is read in, then there is no occurrence ofwasteful communications.

In order to attain the aforementioned object, the present invention isdirected to a communications terminal, comprising: a playback devicewhich playbacks content; a reading device which reads in accessinformation recorded on a prescribed recording medium, the accessinformation being necessary for acquiring the content which can beplayed back by the playback device from a prescribed server via anetwork; a content requesting device which requests the contentcorresponding to the read access information to the server; a receivingdevice which receives metadata together with the content from theserver, the metadata containing update control information for therequested content; a storage device which stores the received contentand the metadata in a mutually associated condition; and an updatecontrol device which controls for requesting updating of the content tothe server according to the update control information, for updating thenew content requested updating, and for storing the new updated contentwhich is received from the server by the receiving device.

Preferably, the update control information contains date/time of nextupdate.

According to the present invention, metadata, including updateconditions information such as the date/time of next update, is createdin the server separately from the content, such as sound information ormoving images, and then the metadata is sent to the communicationsterminal together with the content. Therefore, it is possible to controlupdate of the content in the communications terminal according to theabove metadata when the communications terminal has requested content.More specifically, the content can be updated with reporting contentupdate from the server side. In addition, since the communicationsterminal does not make an inquiry to the server after acquiring thecontent, until it performs an update, there is no occurrence of wastefulcommunications.

The present invention is also directed to a server which deliverscontent to a server which delivers content to the communicationsterminal as described above of an access source, when access is receivedvia a network from the communications terminal, comprising: an orderreceiving device which receives an order for recording an image onto aprescribed recording medium; a first database which manages the contentrelating to the image, the content being delivered to the communicationsterminal; a second database which manages metadata in association withthe content managed by the first database; an instruction informationcreating device which creates instruction information, the instructioninformation causing the access information to be recorded onto theprescribed recording medium together with the image, the accessinformation being necessary for the communications terminal to acquirethe content; an access information receiving device which receives theaccess information from the communications terminal, when the accessinformation recorded on the recording medium is read in by thecommunications terminal; and a delivery device which delivers thecontent corresponding to the received access information, and themetadata to the communications terminal of the access source, thecontent being managed by the first database, the metadata being managedby the second database in association with the content.

The present invention is also directed to the server wherein: the accessinformation receiving device acquires current date and time informationmanaged by the communications terminal from the communications terminal;and if the delivery device judges that current data and time informationmanaged by the communications terminal does not match current date andtime information managed by the server, then the delivery deviceprohibits the communications terminal from playing back the content.

The present invention is also directed to the server further comprisinga billing device which performs billing processing according to themetadata.

According to the present invention, it is possible to control a playbackand an update accurately, even if the date and time information, whichare managed by the communications terminal, have been changeddeliberately by the user.

The present invention is also directed to a server, comprising: an orderreceiving device which receives an order for recording an image onto aprescribed recording medium; a first database which manages contentrelating to the image, the content being delivered to a prescribedcommunications terminal; a second database which manages metadata inassociation with the content, the metadata containing playbackconditions for playback of the content by the communications terminal;an instruction information creating device which creates instructioninformation for causing access information to be recorded onto therecording medium together with the image, the access information beingnecessary for the communications terminal to acquire the content; anaccess information receiving device which receives the accessinformation from the communications terminal, when the accessinformation recorded on the recording medium is read in by thecommunications terminal; a judging device which judges whether todeliver the content and the metadata corresponding to the receivedaccess information; a searching device which searches the first databasefor the content corresponding to the access information, while searchingthe second database for the metadata corresponding to the accessinformation; and a delivery device which delivers both the content andthe metadata to the communications terminal of an access source if thejudging device judges to deliver both the content and the metadata, andwhich delivers only the metadata to the communications terminal of theaccess source if the judging device judges to deliver the metadata only,according to the judgment result of the judging device.

The present invention is also directed to the server wherein: the accessinformation receiving device acquires current date and time informationmanaged by the communications terminal from the communications terminal;and if current data and time information managed by the communicationsterminal does not match current date and time information managed by theserver, then the judging device prohibits the communications terminalfrom playing back the content.

The present invention is also directed to the server further comprisinga billing device which performs billing processing according to themetadata.

According to the present invention, by this configuration, it ispossible to perform billing, according to a permitted frequency ofplayback, the playback validity term, and other playback controlinformation, or update control information. For example, rather thanbilling a certain price for one song, it is possible to bill a certainprice to playback one song a certain number of times. Additionally, itis possible to bill a certain price to playback same one song until theend of a particular month, for example. Furthermore, it is also possibleto bill a certain price to update same one song a certain number oftimes, for example.

In order to attain the aforementioned object, the present invention isdirected to a playback control method, comprising the steps of: readingin access information recorded on a prescribed recording medium; judgingwhether or not content corresponding to the access information is storedin a prescribed storage device; acquiring the content and metadata via anetwork from a prescribed server, if the content corresponding to theread access information is not stored in the storage device when theaccess information is read in, the metadata containing playback controlinformation for the content; storing the content and the metadataacquired in the acquiring step in a mutually associated condition in thestorage device; and playing back the content which is stored in thestorage device, according to the metadata stored in the storage devicein association with the content.

The present invention is also directed to a playback control method,comprising the steps of: reading in access information recorded on aprescribed recording medium; judging whether or not contentcorresponding to the access information is stored in a prescribedstorage device; acquiring the content and metadata via a network from aprescribed server, if the content corresponding to the read accessinformation is not stored in the storage device when the accessinformation is read in, the metadata containing update controlinformation for the content; updating the content stored in the storagedevice according to the metadata stored in the storage device inassociation with the content; and playing back the content stored in thestorage device.

In order to attain the aforementioned object, the present invention isdirected to a computer readable medium having embodied thereon acomputer program for processing by a computer, the computer programcomprising: a first code segment for reading in access informationrecorded onto a prescribed recording medium; a second code segment forjudging whether or not content corresponding to the access informationis stored in a prescribed storage device; a third code segment foracquiring the content and metadata via a network from a prescribedserver, if the content corresponding to the read access information isnot stored in the storage device when the access information is read in,the metadata containing playback control information for the content; afourth code segment for storing the content and metadata, which areacquired, in a mutually associated condition in the storage device; anda fifth code segment for playing back the content which is stored in thestorage device, according to the metadata stored in the storage devicein association with the content.

In order to attain the aforementioned object, the present invention isdirected to a computer readable medium having embodied thereon acomputer program for processing by a computer, the computer programcomprising: a first code segment for reading in access informationrecorded on a prescribed recording medium; a second code segment forjudging whether or not content corresponding to the access informationis stored in a prescribed storage device; a third code segment foracquiring the content and metadata via a network from a prescribedserver, if the content corresponding to the read access information isnot stored in the storage device when the access information is read in,the metadata containing playback control information for the content; afourth code segment for storing the content and the metadata acquired inthe acquiring step in a mutually associated condition in the storagedevice; and a fifth code segment for playing back the content which isstored in the storage device, according to the metadata stored in thestorage device in association with the content.

In order to attain the aforementioned object, the present invention isalso directed to a computer readable medium having embodied thereon acomputer program for processing by a computer, the computer programcomprising: a first code segment for reading in access informationrecorded on a prescribed recording medium; a second code segment forjudging whether or not content corresponding to the access informationis stored in a prescribed storage device; a third code segment foracquiring the content and metadata via a network from a prescribedserver, if the content corresponding to the read access information isnot stored in the storage device when the access information is read in,the metadata containing update control information for the content; afourth code segment for updating the content stored in the storagedevice according to the metadata stored in the storage device inassociation with the content; and a fifth code segment for playing backthe content stored in the storage device.

The present invention is also directed to the medium wherein the mediumis a propagated signal.

The present invention is directed to the medium wherein the propagatedsignal is a carrier wave.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possibleto prevent the occurrence of redundant communications between acommunications terminal which receives and plays back content, and aserver which delivers the content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature of this invention, as well as other objects and advantagesthereof, will be explained in the following with retrieve to theaccompanying drawings, in which like retrieve characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the figures and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general compositional diagram of a service system comprisinga mobile telephone, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of a photographic printaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an internal composition of a mobiletelephone according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of a management table accordingto the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the sequence of playback controlprocessing according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the specific internal composition of aserver according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an example of metadata according to theembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an example of a metadata management tableaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the sequence of service processingaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the sequence of the processing of amobile telephone in service processing according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the sequence of serviceprocessing according to a second embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the sequence of the processing of amobile telephone in service processing according to the secondembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a general compositional diagram of a service system comprisingmobile telephones 30 and 40 and a service server 10 according to anembodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a servicesystem comprises: mobile telephones 30 and 40; a service server 10; aprinter 20; and a personal computer (hereafter, abbreviated to “PC”) 50,which are connected respectively to a network 60.

The service server 10 communicates with the printer 20, the mobiletelephones 30 and 40, the PC 50, via the network 60. The service server10 performs services as following: a printing service which creates aphotographic print according to an order from a user; a registrationservice which stores registered information relating to an image to beprinted for a prescribed period of time; a delivery service whichdelivers stored registered information; and other types of services.

Herein, registered information comprises sound information, textinformation, moving image information, or other digital content(hereafter referred to simply as “content”).

The printer 20 creates a photographic print 26 shown in FIG. 2 inaccordance with control implemented by the service server 10. In thephotographic print 26, a two-dimensional barcode 27 such as a QR code(registered trademark) is printed together with the image 28 which hasbeen ordered for printing.

The mobile telephones 30 and 40 are able to photograph a subject. Themobile telephones 30 and 40 are also designed so as to be able tophotograph and decode a two-dimensional barcode, and to access theservice server 10 via the network 60 according to the result of thedecoding. The mobile telephones 30 and 40 are actually connected to abase station (not shown in FIG. 1) by means of radio communications, andare connected to a wired network 60 via the base station. The telephones30 and 40 are connected to the service server 10 via a network 60.

In FIG. 1, only two mobile telephones 30, one mobile telephone 40, andone PC 50 are shown, but a plurality of user terminals are actuallyconnected to the network 60.

Herein, the mobile telephone 40 and the PC 50 are user terminal devicesfor uploading images and registered information to the service server10, and are owned by the user placing an order for a print. The mobiletelephone 30 is a user terminal device for downloading registeredinformation from the service server 10, and it is owned by the user towhom the photographic print is to be delivered.

For convenience in description of the print service provided by theservice server 10, when the service server 10 receives the upload of animage to be printed from the mobile telephone 40 or the PC 50, theservice server 10 issues identification information, generates accessinformation containing the identification information, and then printsthe generated access information in the form of a two-dimensionalbarcode onto prescribed paper, together with the image. Herein, accessinformation is information which is required in order for the mobiletelephone 30 to connect to the service server 10 via the network 60 byradio communications, and to download the registered information. Forexample, it contains a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and identificationinformation relating to the registered information. The identificationinformation is information for identifying the image which is printed ina photographic print by uploading as well as being information foridentifying the registered information.

In addition, for convenience in description of the registration serviceprovided by the service server 10, when the service server 10 receivesthe upload of registered information relating to an image to be printedfrom the mobile telephone 40 or the PC 50, the service server 10registers the registered information in a prescribed database inassociation with identification information.

Furthermore, for convenience in description of the delivery service ofthe service server 10, when the service server 10 is accessed with themobile telephone 30 by using the two-dimensional barcode on aphotographic print, the registered information to be downloaded isidentified according to the identification information received from themobile telephone 30, and then the registered information is downloadedto the mobile telephone 30 which has accessed the service server 10.

First, a service system according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention is described below.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the internal composition ofthe mobile telephones 30 and 40. As shown in FIG. 3, the mobiletelephones 30 and 40 comprises: a camera 341; a microphone 342; aspeaker 343; a liquid crystal display (LCD) 344; an operating panel 345;a position determination unit 346; a radio communications unit 347; anon-volatile memory 348; and a control unit 349.

The camera 341 is used to read in a two-dimensional barcode as well asphotographing a subject. The microphone 342 is used for inputting soundinformation, which is one type of registered information as well asholding a conversation. The speaker 343 is used for outputting soundinformation, which is one type of registered information as well asholding a conversation. The LCD 344 is used for outputting textinformation, moving image information, and other registered information,as well as being used for displaying captured images, electronic mail,and various types of operating screens. The operating panel 345 is usedfor inputting text information which is one type of registeredinformation, as well as inputting telephone numbers, the content of anelectronic mail, and the like. The position determination unit 346determines the current position of the mobile telephones 30 and 40 byusing a GPS (Global Positioning System).

The radio communications unit 347 communicates with other mobiletelephones and with the service server 10 connected to the network 60 byperforming radio communications via a base station (not illustrated inthe drawings). In the present embodiment, firstly, an image to beprinted is uploaded to the service server 10, and a print of theuploaded image is ordered. Secondly, registered information relating tothe image to be printed is uploaded to the service server 10, andstorage of the registered information relating to the image to beprinted is requested. Finally, the registered information is downloadedfrom the service server 10 by means of the two-dimensional barcode.

The non-volatile memory 348 stores: a control program for controllingthe various sections of the mobile telephones 30 and 40; contentdownloaded via the network 60; a management table for controllingplayback; and other various types of information.

The control unit 349 executes the program and performs overall controlof the respective units of the mobile telephones 30 and 40. Morespecifically, when a two-dimensional barcode has been read in by thecamera 341, the control device 349 judges whether or not contentcorresponding to the read in two-dimensional barcode is present in thenon-voltage memory 348, according to the information stored in thenon-volatile memory 348. If the content is judged to be present in thenon-volatile memory 348, then the content corresponding to the read intwo-dimensional barcode is read out from the non-volatile memory 348,and is played back by means of the LCD 344 and speaker 343, and thelike. On the other hand, if the content is judged not to be present inthe non-volatile memory 348, then the content corresponding to the readin two-dimensional barcode is downloaded from the radio communicationsunit 347 and is played back by means of the LCD 344 and speaker 343, andthe like. In addition, the control unit 349 displays an error message onthe LCD 344, if the non-volatile memory 348 does not have sufficientspare storage capacity for the content that is to be downloaded, if theterminal is out of range, or if the download of the content isinterrupted. Furthermore, the control unit 349 stores the content of theread in two-dimensional barcode in the non-volatile memory 348, if it isimpossible to start download of content, or if download of content isinterrupted. Therefore, even if the two-dimensional barcode is notre-read in, it starts to download the content to the radiocommunications unit 347 according to the information stored in thenon-volatile memory 348.

In the present embodiment, the playback device according to the presentinvention is composed of the speaker 343 and the LCD 344. In addition,the reading device according to the present invention is composed of thecamera 341. Furthermore, the communications device according to thepresent invention is composed of the radio communications unit 347.

Moreover, the storage device according to the present invention iscomposed of the non-volatile memory 348, and the judgment device.Additionally, the control device according to the present invention iscomposed of the control unit 349.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of a management table 3480managed by the mobile telephone 30. As shown in FIG. 4, this managementtable 3480 comprises information relating to the acquisition of content,such as original information (including a first URL and identificationinformation id) 3481, a second URL 3482, identification information (id)3483, an error code 3489, and the like. The URL comprises a first URL(including 3481) which is used when downloading content from the serviceserver 10, and a second URL 3482 which is used when acquiring contentstored in the non-volatile memory 348 of the mobile telephone, from thenon-volatile memory 348.

The first URL (in the original information 3481) is information which isgenerated by the service server 10. When the two-dimensional barcode isread in and decoded, the first URL is registered in the management table3480. In the first URL (in the original information 3481), the protocolfor acquiring the content is indicated as “http”.

The second URL 3482 is information which is generated by the mobiletelephone 30. When content is downloaded from the service server 10 andstored in the non-volatile memory 348 (more specifically, on ascratchpad), the second URL 3482 is registered in the management table3480. In the second URL 3482, the protocol for acquiring the content isindicated as “scratchpad”.

The identification information 3483 is information which is issuedcorresponding to content by the service server 10. When atwo-dimensional barcode is read in and is decoded, the identificationinformation is extracted from the original information 3481 obtained bythis decoding process, and then is registered in the management table3480.

The error code 3489 is information which is generated by the mobiletelephone 30. If download of content completes normally and the contentis stored in the non-volatile memory 348, then a code (for example,“00”) indicating normal termination is registered in the managementtable 3480. On the other hand, if it is impossible to start download ofthe content, or if the download of the content is interrupted, then acode indicating abnormal termination (for example, “E1”, “E2”, “E3”, orthe like), is registered in the management table 3480.

Furthermore, when the mobile telephone 30 accesses the service server10, the mobile telephone 30 sends an HTTP request comprising a first URLand original information 3481 containing identification information3483, for instance “http://www.fujifilm.co.jp/?id=93ab5”. In this case,the identification information 3483 is “93ab5”. The identificationinformation 3483 is actually generated in encrypted form by the serviceserver 10. When the service server 10 receives the identificationinformation 3483 from the mobile telephone 30, it is encrypted by theservice server 10. For example, the encrypted information “93ab5” isdecoded as “12345”.

Next, the sequence of playback control processing performed by themobile telephone 30 according to the present embodiment is describeddetail with reference to FIG. 5. Each of the steps in FIG. 5 is executedby the control unit 349 of the mobile telephone 30, in accordance with aprogram stored in the non-volatile memory 348 of the mobile telephone30.

First, when a two-dimensional barcode read out start instruction isinputted by starting up a prescribed application program by means of theuser operating the operating panel 345 of the mobile telephone 30, thetwo-dimensional barcode is photographed by the camera 341 of the mobiletelephone 30 (S2) and decoded (S4).

More specifically, when a two-dimensional barcode is photographed withcamera 341, the mobile telephone 30 obtains bitmap information for atwo-dimensional matrix comprising “0” and “1” bit rows. By decoding thisbitmap information by means of a previously determined prescribeddecoding method, the mobile telephone 30 obtains original informationincluding the first URL and the identification information id (theinformation prior to encrypting into the two-dimensional barcode).

Next, the mobile telephone 30 judges whether or not contentcorresponding to the read in two-dimensional barcode is stored in thescratchpad (S6).

Incidentally, the scratchpad is a storage region within the non-volatilememory 348 of the mobile telephone 30, and this storage region isallocated for each application program. The content downloaded via thenetwork 60 and a management table 3480 as shown in FIG. 4 is stored inthe scratchpad. The mobile telephone 30 judges whether or not thecontent to be played back is stored in the scratchpad, according to themanagement table 3480.

More specifically, first, the identification information id (forexample, “93ab5”) is extracted from the original information of thetwo-dimensional barcode (for example,“http://www.fujifilm.co.jp/?id=93ab5”). It is judged whether or not theidentification information id is registered in the management table3480. Next, it is judged whether or not the second URL 3482 associatedwith that identification information id is registered in the managementtable 3480. At this time, if the second URL is not registered (if thesecond URL has a null value), then it is judged that the contentcorresponding to the read in two-dimensional barcode is not stored inthe scratchpad.

Instead of judging whether or not the identification information id isregistered in the management table 3480, it is also possible to judgewhether or not the original information itself has been registered inthe management table 3480. In addition, it is also possible to judgewhether or not bitmap information is registered in such a manner thatthe actual bitmap information of the two-dimensional barcode is managedby the management table 3480. Furthermore, instead of judging whether ornot a second URL 3482 is registered in the management table 3480, it isalso possible to judge whether or not the error code 3489 is “00”indicating normal termination.

When a user receiving a photographic print 26 shown in FIG. 2 reads inthe two-dimensional barcode 27 on the photographic print 26 to theuser's mobile telephone 30, the identification information id (forexample, “93ab5”) contained in the read two-dimensional barcode 27 isnot yet actually registered in the management table 3480. In cases ofthis kind, it is judged that the content corresponding to the readtwo-dimensional barcode 27 is not stored in the scratchpad. Furthermore,when the download of the content is failure as described below, thesecond URL 3482 is not yet registered in the management table 3480 evenif the two-dimensional barcode 27 is read in. In cases of this kind, itis also judged that the content corresponding to the readtwo-dimensional barcode 27 is not stored in the scratchpad.

If it is judged that the content corresponding to the read intwo-dimensional barcode is not present in the scratchpad, then thecontent corresponding to the two-dimensional barcode is downloaded fromthe service server 10, according to the original information of the readin two-dimensional barcode.

More specifically, firstly, it is judged whether or not the scratchpadhas sufficient spare capacity to store the content that is to bedownloaded (S10). At this time, when there is insufficient capacity inthe scratchpad, an error code (for example, “E1”), which indicates thereason why download cannot be executed, is set in the management table3480 in association with the original information 3481 of thetwo-dimensional barcode (S12). At the same time, a message indicatingthat download is not possible due to lack of space in the scratchpad isdisplayed on the LCD 344 of the mobile telephone 10 (S14). In time, theuser of the mobile telephone 30 is able to indicate whether or not theseparate content stored in the scratchpad is to be deleted. The mobiletelephone 30 judges whether or not there is a deletion instruction(S16). If a deletion instruction is inputted, it deletes the content(S18). Simultaneously with this deletion of the content, thecorresponding line (original information 3481, second URL 3482,identification information 3483, error code 3489, and the like) isdeleted from the management table 3480.

At the step (S10) for judging the spare capacity, when it is judged thatthere is sufficient spare capacity, it is also judged whether or not themobile telephone 30 is situated within the communications range (S20).At this time, if the mobile telephone is out of range, then an errorcode (for example, “E2”), which indicates the reason why download cannotbe executed, is registered in the management table 3480 in associationwith the original information 3481 of the two-dimensional barcode (S22).In time, a message indicating that download is not possible because themobile telephone is out of range is displayed on the LCD 344 of themobile telephone 30 (S24). The user of the mobile telephone 30 caninstruct whether or not to retry the download (S26).

At the step (S20) for determining whether or not the mobile telephone isin the communications range, when it is judged that the telephone is inrange, the content corresponding to the two-dimensional barcode isdownloaded from the service server 10 by means of radio communications(S28), in the case of no other cause impeding the download. At thistime, the downloaded content is stored in the scratchpad.

Incidentally, it may happen that the download is interrupted due to acause such as a sudden change in the communications environment duringdownloading the content. In this case, when the download terminates, itis judged whether or not there has been an abnormal termination (S30).If there is an abnormal termination, then an error code (for example,“E3”), which indicates a download interruption, is registered in themanagement table 3480 in association with the original information 3481of the two-dimensional barcode (S32). At the same time, a messageindicating that the download has been interrupted is displayed on theLCD 344 of the mobile telephone 10 (S34). The user of the mobiletelephone 30 can instruct whether or not to retry the download (S36).

If the download of the content has terminated normally, the originalinformation of the two-dimensional barcode that has been read in isstored in the scratchpad in association with the content (S32). Morespecifically, the original information 3481 of the two-dimensionalbarcode, the second URL 3482, and the identification information id 3483are set in a mutually associated condition in the management table 3480shown in FIG. 4. A “00” indicating a normal termination is set as theerror code 3489.

If the download of content terminates normally, then the content thusdownloaded is played back (S34). For example, in the case in which aphotographic print 26 shown in FIG. 2 is delivered, when thetwo-dimensional barcode 27 on that photographic print 26 is read in tothe mobile telephone 30, the registered information (sound information,moving image information, text information, and other registeredinformation) related to the image 28 in the photographic print 26 isdownloaded from the service server 10, and is played back on the mobiletelephone 30. For example, it is possible to hear the voice of arelative who is depicted on the photographic print 26. In addition, itis also possible to view a moving image of that relative, and a textmessage inputted by that relative.

After playback of the content is completed, the user selects whether ornot to terminate the application program (S36). At this time, thetwo-dimensional barcode on the same photographic print, or thetwo-dimensional barcode on another photographic print can be read in,and the content corresponding to that two-dimensional barcode can beplayed back. In this case, while the two-dimensional barcode is read out(S2), the two-dimensional barcode is decoded (S4), and then it is judgedwhether or not the content corresponding to the two-dimensional barcodeis stored in the scratchpad (S6).

At this time, if the content corresponding to the read two-dimensionalbarcode is stored in the scratchpad, then the content is not downloaded,and the content already stored in the scratchpad is played back (S40).

For example, firstly, the identification information id (for example,“93ab5”) is extracted from the original information obtained by readingand decrypting the two-dimensional barcode (for example,“http://www.fujifilm.co.jp/?id=93ab5”). It is judged whether or not theidentification information id is registered in the management table3480. If the two-dimensional barcode has already been read in, then theidentification information id is registered in the management table3480. Next, it is judged whether or not the second URL 3482 associatedwith the identification information id is registered in the managementtable 3480. At this time, the second URL 3482 is registered only if thecontent is already downloaded and stored in the scratchpad. Morespecifically, the method of reading in the content from the scratchpad(for example, “scratchpad:///;pos=0”) is registered. On the other hand,if the content is not stored in the scratchpad, the second URL 3482 isset to “null”, which indicates that no content is registered.

At this time, if a second URL 3482 is registered, the content is readout from the scratchpad using the second URL 3482, and the content isplayed back. Consequently, when the two-dimensional barcode of aparticular photographic print is read in for the first time, the contentis downloaded via radio communications. However, when thetwo-dimensional barcode of the same photographic print is read in again,the content stored in the scratchpad is played back without downloading.For example, even if a child reads in the same two-dimensional barcodeon the same photographic print to the mobile telephone 30 any number oftimes, the content is downloaded only once via radio communications, andhence it is possible to reduce the communications costs. In addition,since no time is required for radio communications, the time requiredfrom reading in the two-dimensional barcode until the start of playbackof the content is short, and hence it is possible for the user to enjoyplayback of the content.

Furthermore, the management table, which is used in order to judgewhether or not content is stored in the storage device of the mobiletelephone, is not limited to that described in FIG. 4. It may be adoptedto information of different formats that the information indicateswhether or not the content downloaded in association with accessinformation read in from paper has already been stored.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is described below.

The service system according to the second embodiment is the similarcomposition to the service system according to the first embodimentdescribed with reference to FIG. 1, and since it has been describedalready with respect to the first embodiment, no further explanation isgiven here.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the internalcomposition of a service server 10 in a service system according to thesecond embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the service server 10 comprises:a communications unit 11 which communicates with a printer 20, mobiletelephones 30 and 40; and a PC 50, via a network 60; a control unit 12consisting of a CPU (Central Processing Unit); a registered informationdatabase 13; a metadata database 14; a billing information database 15;and a template database 16. The databases 13 through 16 need not behoused within the chassis of the service server 10, and an embodimentmay be adopted wherein these databases are mounted remotely from theservice server 10, and are connected with the service server 10 via thenetwork 60 shown in FIG. 1.

The communications unit 11 communicates with the devices connected tothe network 60. The communications unit 11 is able to communicate withthe mobile telephones 30 and 40, and the PC 50, by HTTP (HypertextTransfer Protocol).

The registered information database 13 manages multimedia content, suchas sound information, moving image information, still image information,text information and vector graphics, and the other registeredinformation, which is to be downloaded to the mobile telephone 30.Herein, registered information is digital content relating to an imagethat is to be printed (hereafter referred to simply as “content”). Inaddition, the registered information apart from the image to be printedmay also be referred to as “additional information”, and include theactual image that is to be printed. There is a case in which those itemsof registered information are registered by being uploaded together withthe image to the service server 10 from the mobile telephone 40 or PC 50of the user ordering the print at the time of the print order. Inaddition, there is also a case in which those items of registeredinformation are registered by being uploaded to the service server 10from the mobile telephone 40 or PC 50 of the user ordering the printafter the print order. Further, there is also a case in which thoseitems of registered information are prepared by being inputted at theserver 10.

The metadata database 14 manages metadata which includes the contentplayback conditions (one type of playback control information) and thecontent update conditions (one type of update control information. Themetadata 140 shown in FIG. 7 consists of the items: an “ID”, a“version”, a “content acquisition date”, a “playback validity term”, a“date/time of next update”, and a “permitted frequency of playback”. The“ID” (identification information) identifies the content that is managedby the registered information database 13. One identificationinformation ID may correspond to a grouped plurality of content, inaddition to one identification information ID corresponding to onecontent. The “ID” is used to identify an order for a print service or anorder for a registration service, to identify an image to be printed, orto identify billing information. The “version” indicates the version ofthe application program which is required in the mobile telephones 30and 40 in order to playback the content. The “content acquisition date”indicates the date and time (year/month/day, and hour/minute/second) atwhich the mobile telephone 30 acquires the content from the serviceserver 10. The “playback validity term” indicates the valid time periodduring which the content can be played back. The “date/time of nextupdate” indicates the date and time at which the content stored in themobile telephone 30 is to be updated. The “permitted frequency ofplayback” indicates the remaining number of times that which the contentcan be played back.

When the control unit 11 receives order information for a print serviceor a registration service from the mobile telephone 40 or PC 50 of anordering user, the control unit 12 registers in the registeredinformation database 13 the image to be printed (still imageinformation) and the registered information (content) which is relatedto this image, such as sound information, moving image information, textinformation, or the like, which are uploaded from the mobile telephone40 or PC 50 of the ordering user. In addition, the control unit 12creates metadata which indicates the permitted frequency of playback,the playback validity term, and other playback condition informationrelating to the content, as well as update condition informationrelating to the content. Therefore, it registers this metadata in themetadata database 14.

In addition, the control unit 12 creates designation information forrecording a two-dimensional barcode onto the prescribed print mediumtogether with the image to be printed so that the mobile telephone 30obtains the content. Accordingly, the photographic print 26 is createdby the printer 26.

Furthermore, the control unit 12 also performs a billing process withrespect to the ordering user, according to the metadata. For example,the amount of the bill to be charged to the ordering user is calculatedaccording to the size of the registered information. For example, theamount of the bill to be charged to the ordering user is calculatedaccording to a permitted frequency of playback and a length of theplayback validity time corresponding to the playback validity term.

When access information recorded on the photographic print 26 isreceived from the mobile telephone 30, the control unit 11 receives theaccess information indicated by the two-dimensional barcode from themobile telephone 30. In addition, the communications unit 11 deliversthe content and metadata corresponding to the access information, to themobile telephone 30 forming the access source. Incidentally, if it isnot necessary for delivering the content, it may also deliver onlymetadata to the mobile telephone 30.

When the communications unit 11 receives access information from themobile telephone 30, the control unit 12 judges whether or not it isnecessary to deliver content and metadata corresponding to the receivedaccess information. In addition, the control unit 12 searches theregistered information database 13 for content corresponding to theaccess information, and then searches the metadata database 14 formetadata corresponding to the access information. According to thejudgment result for the necessity of delivering content and metadata, ifit is necessary to deliver both content and metadata, both are deliveredto the access source mobile telephone 30. On the other hand, if it isnecessary to deliver metadata only, only metadata is delivered to theaccess source mobile telephone 30.

Furthermore, the control unit 12 acquires the system date and time(current date and time information) managed by the mobile telephone 30.If the system date and time managed by the mobile telephone 30 does notmatch the system date and time (current date and time information)managed by the control unit 12, the mobile telephone 30 is controlledfor prohibiting playback of the content. The judgment of matching dateand time may be performed by judging whether or not there is coincidenceup to the year, month and day, and may be performed by judging whetheror not there is coincidence up to units of hours, minutes and seconds,as well as the year, month and day. More specifically, if the date andtime lie within a prescribed range of tolerance, it might be judged asthe coincidence of the date and time.

In the present embodiment, the order receiving device, the accessinformation receiving device; and the delivering device according to thepresent invention are compose of the communications unit 11 and thecontrol unit 12. The designation information creating device, thejudgment device, and the billing device according to the presentinvention are composed of the control unit 12.

Herein, an example of the control of playback according to the metadata140 shown in FIG. 7 is described. In a first example, the content isplayed back in the case that the current date and time does not exceedthe “playback validity term”. In a second example, the content is playedback, in the case that the current date and time do not exceed the“playback validity term” while the “permitted frequency of playback” is“1” or greater after it is decremented by 1 for each playback of thecontent. In a third example, the content is played back, in the casethat the value of “version” is equal to or lower than the value of theprogram in the mobile telephone 30.

Furthermore, to describe an example of the update control according tothe metadata 140 in FIG. 7, a new content is downloaded from the serviceserver 10 and stored, in the case that the current date and time are the“date/time of next update” or are already passed the “date/time of nextupdate”, and in the case that the current date and time do not yetexceed the “playback validity term”.

Incidentally, the items of the “version”, the “playback validity term”,and the “permitted frequency of playback” shown in FIG. 7 are examplesof playback control information according to the present invention. Inaddition, the “date/time of next update” shown in FIG. 7 is an exampleof the update control information according to the present invention.

The billing information database 15 manages the billing informationcorresponding to the ordering user or to an advertiser. The bill chargedto the ordering user is a bill in respect of printing services, and abill in respect of registration services.

The template database 16 manages the templates of content. For example,the template database 16 stores a frame for synthesizing with the imageto printed. In addition, multimedia content according to vector graphicsmay also be stored, such as a voice saying “A Happy New Year”, textinformation stating “A Happy New Year!”, moving images, animatedcharacters that move about the screen, or the like.

In the service system according to the second embodiment, the mobiletelephones 30 and 40 shown in FIG. 3 have the following functions inaddition to the functions described in the first embodiment.

If the content corresponding to the two-dimensional barcode is notstored in the non-volatile memory 348 when the two-dimensional barcodeis read in by the camera 341, the control unit 12 receives the contentand the metadata corresponding to the two-dimensional barcode from theservice server 10 by means of the radio communications unit 347, andcontrols playback of the content thus received, according to thereceived metadata. On the other hand, if the content corresponding tothe read two-dimensional barcode is stored in the non-volatile memory348, the control unit 12 controls playback of the content which isstored in the non-volatile memory 348 according to the playback controlinformation in the metadata which is stored in the non-volatile memory348 in association with the content.

Additionally, the control unit 12 requests updating of the content fromthe service server 10 by means of the radio communications unit 347according to the update control information in the metadata, and storesnew content received from the service server 10 in the non-volatilememory 348. Furthermore, the control unit 12 requests updating of themetadata from the service server 10 by means of the radio communicationsunit 347 according to the update control information in the metadata,and stores new metadata received from the service server 10 in thenon-volatile memory 348.

In the present embodiment, the playback device according to the presentinvention is composed of the speaker 343 and the LCD 344, the readingdevice according to the present invention is composed of the camera 341,the content requesting device and receiving device according to thepresent invention are composed of the radio communications unit 347, thestorage device according to the present invention is composed of thenon-volatile memory 348, and the judgment device and control deviceaccording to the present invention are composed of the control unit 349.

Next, the sequence of service processing in the service system accordingto the second embodiment is described below. Since there are varioustypes of service processing, two representative examples are describedin detail here.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a sequence of service processing accordingto the first embodiment.

First, as shown in FIG. 9, the ordering user photographs a subject usingthe mobile telephone 40 (S101). For example, when a still image isacquired by photographing, sound information inputted using the mobiletelephone 40 after photographing can be added to the still image to beprinted, and text information inputted using the mobile telephone 40after photographing can also be added to the still image to be printed.When a moving image is acquired, a still image to be printed can beextracted from the moving image, sound information recordedsimultaneously with the capturing of the moving image can be added to astill image to be printed, and text information inputted using themobile telephone 40 after image capture can also be added to a stillimage to be printed.

Next, the ordering user performs an ordering operation for the printservice by means of the mobile telephone 40 (S102).

Herein, print service is a service which creates a photographic print inwhich the image is printed onto a prescribed printing medium.

Specifically, an image to be printed is selected from among a pluralityof still images obtained by photographing, and then the size, number, orthe like of the photographic print are inputted according torequirements. At this time, a still image for printing may also beextracted from a moving image. In addition, the delivery method for thephotographic print is also specified. For example, if the user orderingthe print takes directly at a photographic laboratory or other specifiedpickup location for pickup, then the pickup location is specified. Forexample, if the delivery by mail, parcel service, or the like isrequested by specifying a delivery destination, then the deliverydestination is specified. In this case, the photograph is packaged, andis sent to the required delivery destination. In the case of a postcard,it is also possible to request delivery of the postcard itself to therequired delivery destination.

At the same time, the user ordering the print also performs an orderingoperation for the registration service by using the mobile telephone 40(S103).

Herein, registration service is a service which registers the image tobe printed or the content relating to the image (namely, soundinformation, text information, a moving image, or other registeredinformation), in the registered information database 13, and stores samefor a prescribed period of time.

For example, if a still image obtained by photographing is to beprinted, then it is possible to request the registration of the stillimage together with sound information and text information attached tothe still image. In addition, if a still image extracted from a movingimage is to be printed, it is possible to request the registration, asregistered information, of the still image, the moving image from whichthe still image has been extracted, sound information which is recordedsimultaneously with capturing of the moving image, and text informationinputted after image capture. Such the registered information isdownloaded to the mobile telephone 30 of the user to whom thephotographic print is distributed, as described hereinafter. Except foruploading and registering the registered information to the serviceserver 10, it may also be adopted to a configuration in which desiredtemplate information is selected from among a plurality of templateinformation items registered previously in a template database 16, andthen only information for linking to the selected template isregistered. For example, it may be adopted to a configuration in whichmultimedia content created previously as Flash (trademark) vectorgraphics, or the like, is selected, and then the information isregistered for linking to the multimedia content thus selected.

Furthermore, the ordering user can specify the content update conditionsand the content playback conditions, such as the permitted frequency ofplayback and the playback validity term. The relationship between thepermitted frequency of playback and the billing amount is displayed onthe LCD 344 of the mobile telephone 30: for example, the price in whicha permitted frequency of playback is limited to ten times is displayed;and the price in which the permitted frequency of playback is limited totwenty times is displayed. Then, an operation for selecting a permittedfrequency of playback is performed via the operating panel 345 by takingaccount of the billing amount. In addition, the relationship between theplayback validity term and the billing amount, such as the price if theplayback validity period continues until next month. For example, theprice in which it extends until the month after next, is displayed onthe LCD 344 of the mobile telephone 30. Then, an operation for selectingthe playback validity term is performed via the operating panel 345 bytaking account of the billing amount. Furthermore, the relationshipbetween a permitted frequency of update and the billing amount isdisplayed on the LCD 344 of the mobile telephone 30. For example, theprice in which the permitted frequency of update is zero is displayed,and the price in which it is one or more is displayed. Then, anoperation for selecting the permitted frequency of update is performedvia the operating panel 345 by taking account of the billing amount.

Next, when the user ordering the print performs a prescribedtransmission operation using the mobile telephone 40, the orderinformation is uploaded from the mobile telephone 40 to the serviceserver 10 via the network 60 (S104). Herein, order information containsthe image to be printed, the registered information (sound information,text information, moving image information, and the like), the playbackconditions information, the update conditions information, and thephotographic print delivery information.

Though an example of a case in which uploading is performed from themobile telephone 40 to the service server 10 is described above, it mayalso be adopted to an embodiment as following: an image is captured by adigital camera (not shown in the drawings) (S101); the storage media onwhich the captured image is stored is inserted in the PC 50, and anorder operation for the print service (S102); an order operation for theregistration service (S103); and uploading of the order information tothe service server 10 (S104), are performed by the PC 50.

Incidentally, uploading the registered information, the playbackconditions information, and the update conditions information can beperformed after the image to be printed is downloaded, except for beingperformed simultaneously with the uploading of the image to be printed.

Next, when the service server 10 receives the upload of the orderinformation, identification information ID is issued in respect of eachimage to be printed (S111). This identification information ID is usedfor identifying the image to be printed, as well as for identifying theregistered information downloaded to the mobile telephone 30 of the userto whom the photographic print is distributed. On the one hand, there isa case in which the identification information corresponds in aone-to-one fashion with the image to be printed. On the other hand,there is a case in which one piece of identification informationcorresponds to a plurality of images to be printed which are groupedtogether in the same print order.

Next, the service server 10 generates the access information necessaryfor the mobile telephone 30 of the user to whom the photographic printis distributed to acquire the registered information from the serviceserver 10 via the network 60 (S112). Herein, access information containsa URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and identification information ID.

Next, the service server 10 registers order information (such as theregistered information, playback conditions information, updateconditions information, and delivery information) which is uploaded fromthe mobile telephone 40 or the PC 50, in the database, in associationwith the identification information ID. Herein, registered informationis managed by the registered information database 13. The playbackconditions information and the update conditions information are managedby the metadata database 14 as part of the metadata.

Next, the image to be printed and the access information are transmittedfrom the service server 10 to the printer 20 (S114), and then aphotographic print 26 is created by the printer 20 (S115). Herein,access information is printed together with the printed image 28 on thesame printing medium, in the form of a two-dimensional barcode 27.

Then, the service server 10 performs billing (S116). Herein, billing isdivided into billing in respect of a print service (i.e. a service forcreating a photographic print 26 bearing the image to be printed), andbilling in respect of a registration service (i.e. a service for storingregistered information and delivering the registered information inresponse to access from a mobile telephone 30).

A billing process for only the print service is performed with respectto an ordering user who has requested a print service only. Morespecifically, the charge varies according to the type of photographicprint (normal size, postcard size, and so on), the number of prints, andwhether delivery is to be made by post or by parcel service, and thelike.

Additionally, a billing process for the registration service isperformed in addition to a billing process for the print service, withrespect to an ordering user who has requested a registration service inconjunction with a print service. More specifically, a billing processis performed in accordance with the playback conditions information (theplayback validity term, the permitted frequency of playback, and thelike), and the update conditions information (a frequency of update).For example, an amount is billed in accordance with the permittedfrequency of playback, in such a manner that a certain amount is chargedif the permitted frequency of playback is limited to ten times, and adifferent amount is charged if the permitted frequency of playback islimited to twenty times. For example, an amount may also be billed inaccordance with the playback validity term, in such a manner that acertain amount is charged if the playback validity period continuesuntil next month and a different amount is charged if the playbackvalidity period continues until the month after next. For example, anamount may also be billed in accordance with the permitted frequency ofupdate, in such a manner that a certain amount is charged if thepermitted frequency of update is zero time, and a different amount ischarged if it is one or more time.

Incidentally, when the playback validity term is passed, the registeredinformation is deleted from the registered information database 13 bythe service server 10.

Next, the sequence of processing according to the first embodiment isdescribed in a case that a two-dimensional barcode 27 on a photographicprint 26 is read in to a mobile telephone 30 of a user to which thephotographic print 26 is distributed, and that the content is thenplayed back.

First, the user to whom the photographic print 26 is distributed setsthe user's mobile telephone 30 to a mode for reading a two-dimensionalbarcode, and uses the mobile telephone 30 to read the two-dimensionalbarcode 27 on the photographic print 26 (S121). Then, the mobiletelephone 30 judges whether or not content corresponding to thetwo-dimensional barcode 27 is stored in the non-volatile memory 348 ofthe mobile telephone 30 (S122).

At this time, if content corresponding to the read two-dimensionalbarcode 27 is not stored in the non-volatile memory 348, then contentcorresponding to the two-dimensional barcode 27 is requested from theservice server 10 (S123). In this case, the mobile telephone 30 sendsaccess information containing the identification information ID(referring to as the original information of the two-dimensionalbarcode), to the service server 10.

Next, while the service server 10, which receives a request of contentfrom the mobile telephone 30, searches for the content corresponding tothe identification information ID, from among the content (registeredinformation) managed by the registered information database 13, theservice server 10 also searches for metadata corresponding to theidentification information ID from among the metadata managed by themetadata database 14 (S124), and sends the content and the metadata tothe access source mobile telephone 30 (S125).

Next, when the mobile telephone 30 receives the content and metadata,the mobile telephone 30 stores the content and metadata in mutuallyrelating condition in the non-volatile memory 348 of the mobiletelephone 30 (S126). For example, if metadata 140 having the formatshown in FIG. 7 has been received, then the received metadata 140 ismanaged by the mobile telephone 30 within a management table 4480 asshown in FIG. 8.

In FIG. 8, the columns of an “ID”, a “Version”, a “Content acquisitiondate”, a “Reproduction validity term”, a “Next update date/time”, a“Permitted frequency of playback” are set respectively in the detailsreceived from the service server 10 for each set of identificationinformation ID. In addition, the original information of thetwo-dimensional barcode 27 is registered in association with themetadata received from the service server 10. In the present embodiment,the original information contains the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) andidentification information ID necessary for the mobile telephone 30 toconnect to the service server 10.

Then, the mobile telephone 30 judges whether or not playback of thecontent is permitted or denied, according to the received metadata(S127). At this time, if the playback is permitted, then the contentreceived from the service server 10 is played back (S128). For example,if the two-dimensional barcode 27 of the photographic print 26 shown inFIG. 2 is read into the mobile telephone 30, sound information (forexample, the voices of family members) relating to the printed image 28(for example, a still image of a family) is outputted from the speaker343 of the mobile telephone 30, and a moving image relating to theprinted image 28 (for example, a moving image of the family) isdisplayed on the LCD 344 of the mobile telephone 30. Furthermore, if thedisplay is switched by means of the operating panel 345, textinformation relating to the printed image 28 (for example, a textmessage inputted by a family member) is displayed on the LCD 344 of themobile telephone 30.

Incidentally, the ordering user may upload the registered information(content) after ordering a print service and a registration service.Firstly, there is a case that the user uploads registered information ata later time, except for uploading the registered information whenplacing the order. Secondly, there is a case that the user performs anupload in order to update that registered information, regardless ofhaving uploaded the registered information when placing the order (anupdate upload) (S130). When having received the registered informationfrom the mobile telephone 40 of the ordering user or from the PC 50 ofthe ordering user, the service server 10 registers the registeredinformation in the registered information database 13 in associationwith the identification information ID. At this time, if there is noneed to change the metadata, then the metadata in the metadata database14 is maintained in unaltered form, without being newly registered ormodified.

Furthermore, the mobile telephone 30 judges whether or not the currentdate and time are passed the date/time of next update (S132). At thistime, if it is passed the date/time of next update, then it requests thecontent which is registered in the registered information database 13,from the service server 10 (S133). The identification information ID isattached to this content request. While the service server 10 searchesthe registered information database 13 for the content corresponding tothe identification information ID from among the content (i.e. theregistered information) which is managed by the registered informationdatabase 13, the service server 10 searches for metadata correspondingto the identification information ID from among the metadata managed bythe metadata database 14 (S134), and then sends the content and themetadata to the access source mobile telephone 30 (S135). The mobiletelephone 30 stores the content and metadata which are received innon-volatile memory 348 of the Mobile telephone 30 in a mutuallyassociated condition (S136).

After that, the two-dimensional barcode 27 on the photographic print 26is read in to the mobile telephone 30 (S141), and then it is judgedwhether or not the content corresponding to the two-dimensional barcode27 is stored in the non-volatile memory 348 of the mobile telephone 30(S142). At this time, if the content corresponding to thetwo-dimensional barcode 27 is stored therein, then no request forcontent is made to the service server 10, and then it is judged whetheror not playback of the content is to be permitted or denied, accordingto the metadata associated with the content that is to be played back(S147). According to this judgment result, the playback of the contentis permitted or denied (S148).

For example, if the current date and time are passed the playbackvalidity term, playback of the content is denied. Then, the mobiletelephone 30 displays a message which indicates that the playbackvalidity term is passed, on the LCD 344. In addition, if the permittedfrequency of playback, which is decremented each time of playing backthe content, is reached to “0”, the mobile telephone 30 displays amessage which indicates that the permitted frequency of playback isreached to “zero”, on the LCD 344.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the sequence of processing performed bythe mobile telephone 30 in service processing according to the firstembodiment. Each of the respective steps in this process is executed bythe control unit 349 in the mobile telephone 30.

First, as shown in FIG. 10, the two-dimensional barcode is read in(S121). More specifically, the two-dimensional barcode is photographedby the camera 341, and the two-dimensional barcode thus photographed isdecrypted. At this time, the mobile telephone 30 judges whether or notcontent corresponding to the read two-dimensional barcode 27 is storedin the non-volatile memory 348 of the mobile telephone 30 (S122). Morespecifically, the mobile telephone 30 extracts the identificationinformation from the original information obtained as a result ofdecrypting the two-dimensional barcode, and judges whether or not thisidentification information is registered in the management table 3480shown in FIG. 4. At this time, the mobile telephone 30 may also judgewhether or not the actual original information is registered in themanagement table 3480. If it is judged that the content corresponding tothe read in two-dimensional barcode 27 is not stored in the non-volatilememory 348, the mobile telephone 30 requests the content from theservice server 10 according to the original information of thetwo-dimensional barcode 27 (i.e. the access information) (S123),receives content and metadata from the service server 10 (S125), storesthe content and metadata received in the non-volatile memory 348 in amutually associated condition (S126), and then judges whether or notplayback of the content is permitted according to the metadata thusreceived (S127). If the playback is permitted, the mobile telephone 30playbacks the received content (S128). On the other hand, if theplayback of the received content is not permitted (playback denied), themobile telephone 30 displays a message which indicates that the contentcannot be played back, on the LCD 344 (S148), and then the content isdeleted from the non-volatile memory 348 (S149).

Furthermore, according to the judgment in step S122, if it is judgedthat the content corresponding to the two-dimensional barcode 27 isstored in the non-volatile memory 348, the mobile telephone 30 furtherjudges whether or not updating of the content is necessary according tothe metadata stored in the non-volatile memory 348 in association withthe content (S132). More specifically, if the current date and time arepassed the date/time of next update, it is judged that updating of thecontent is necessary.

If it is judged that updating of the content is necessary, the mobiletelephone 30 requests the content from the service server 10 (S123). Onthe other hand, if it is judged that updating of the content is notnecessary, the mobile telephone 30 judges whether or not playback of thecontent is permitted, according to the metadata stored in thenon-volatile memory 348 in association with the content (S127). At thistime, if playback is permitted, it playbacks the content stored in thenon-volatile memory 348 (S128). If the playback is not permitted, thecontent is not played back, a message, which indicates that the contentcannot be played back, is displayed on the LCD 344 (S148). Then, thecontent is deleted from the non-volatile memory 348 (S149).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a sequence of service processingaccording to the second embodiment.

Each of the respective steps in the process of the second embodiment issame as the following service processing of the first embodimentdescribed above. More specifically, the process of the second embodimentcomprises the steps of: uploading order information by performingprescribed operations at the mobile telephone 40 of the ordering user orthe PC 50 of the ordering user (S101 through S104); issuing of an ID(S111) by the service server 10; generating access information by theservice server 10 (S112); registering information in the database by theservice server 10 (S113); instructing for printing by the service server10 (114); and billing as performed by the service server 10 (S114).Furthermore, similarly to the service processing of the firstembodiment, access information containing identification information IDis printed in the form of a two-dimensional barcode 27 shown in FIG. 2on the same print medium together with the printed image 28 shown inFIG. 2, in accordance with the order information (S115).

First, the user to whom the photographic print 26 is to be deliveredmakes the user's mobile telephone 30 to read in the two-dimensionalbarcode 27 on the photographic print 26 (S221). Then, the mobiletelephone 30 judges whether or not content corresponding to thetwo-dimensional barcode 27 is stored in the non-volatile memory 348 ofthe mobile telephone 30 (S222).

At this time, if content corresponding to the read two-dimensionalbarcode 27 is not stored in the non-volatile memory 348, the contentcorresponding to the two-dimensional barcode 27 is requested from theservice server 10 (S223). In this case, the mobile telephone 30 sendsaccess information including the identification information ID (namely,the original information of the two-dimensional barcode), to the serviceserver 10. Furthermore, in the service processing according to thesecond embodiment, the system date and time, which are managed by themobile telephone 30, are attached to the access information, and aresent to the service server 10.

When receiving a request for content from the mobile telephone 30, theservice server 10 searches for the content corresponding to theidentification information ID, from among the content (registeredinformation) which is managed by the registered information database 13,and also searches for metadata corresponding to the identificationinformation ID from among the metadata which is managed by the metadatadatabase 14 (S224). Then, the service server 10 judges whether or notplayback of the content is to be permitted or denied, according to themetadata thus referenced (S225). The service server 10 compares thesystem date and time of the mobile telephone 30, which are received fromthe mobile telephone 30, with the system date and time which are managedby the service server 10. At this time, if they are not matching, itjudges that playback is not permitted.

On the other hand, if playback is permitted, the service server 10 sendsthe content and metadata to the mobile telephone 30 (S226). The mobiletelephone 30, which receives the content and metadata, stores thecontent and metadata in a mutually associated condition in thenon-volatile memory 348 of the mobile telephone 30 (S228), and then alsoplaybacks the content received from the service server 10 (S229).

Incidentally, the ordering user may upload the registered information(content) after ordering a print service and a registration service(S130).

In the present embodiment, it is also possible to instruct for changingthe playback conditions information and the playback update informationof the registered content. For example, a designation that the contenthas not been updated when uploading the image to be printed may bechanged to a designation that the content is updated, according to theuser's wishes. In addition, for example, a designation that the playbackvalidity term of the content has been the end of next month whenuploading the image to be printed may be changed to a designation thatplayback is valid for one year, according to the user's wishes.

The service server 10 registers the registered information in theregistered information database 13 in association with theidentification information ID when receiving the registered informationfrom the mobile terminal 40 or the PC 50 of the ordering user. Inaddition, the service server 10 registers this information as part ofthe metadata, in the metadata database 14, in association with theidentification information ID, when receiving the playback conditionsinformation and update conditions information from the ordering user'smobile telephone 40 or the PC 50.

Next, the mobile telephone 30 judges whether or not the current date andtime are passed the date/time of next update (S232). At this time, ifthe mobile telephone 30 is passed the date/time of next update, themobile telephone 30 requests the content registered in the registeredinformation database 13, from the service server 10 (S233). In time, theidentification information ID is attached to this content request.Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the system date and time managedby the mobile telephone 30 are attached to the access information, andare sent to the service server 10. While searching the registeredinformation database 13 for the content corresponding to theidentification information ID, from among the content (registeredinformation) managed by the registered information database 13, theservice server 10 further searches for metadata corresponding to theidentification information ID from among the metadata managed by themetadata database 14 (S234), and then sends the content and the metadatato the access source mobile telephone 30 (S235). The service server 10compares the system date and time of the mobile telephone 30, which arereceived from the mobile telephone 30, with the system date and timemanaged by the service server 10. At this time, if both the system dateand time are not matching, the service server 10 does not performdelivery.

Next, the mobile telephone 30 stores the content and metadata thusreceived in non-volatile memory 348 of the mobile telephone 30 in amutually associated condition (S236).

Then, the two-dimensional barcode 27 on the photographic print 26 isread in to the mobile telephone 30 (S241), the mobile telephone 30judges whether or not the content corresponding to the two-dimensionalbarcode 27 is stored in the non-volatile memory 348 of the mobiletelephone 30 (S242). If the content corresponding to the two-dimensionalbarcode 27 is stored in the mobile telephone 30, the mobile telephone 30requests to the service server 10 for permission to playback the contentcorresponding to the two-dimensional barcode 27 (S243). In this time,the identification information ID is attached to this playbackpermission request.

When receiving a request for permission to playback the content from themobile telephone 30, the service server 10 searches for the metadatacorresponding to the identification information ID from among themetadata managed by the metadata database 14 (S244). The service server10 judges whether or not playback of the content is to be permitted ordenied, according to the metadata thus referenced (S245). At this time,the service server 10 sends to the mobile telephone 30 either a playbackpermission report or a playback denial report (S246). The service server10 compares the system date and time of the mobile telephone 30, whichare received from the mobile telephone 30, with the system date and timemanaged by the service server 10. Then, both the system date and timeare not matching, the mobile telephone 30 judges that playback is not tobe permitted.

While the mobile telephone 30 playbacks the content when receiving aplayback permission report, the mobile telephone 30 does not playbackthe content when receiving a playback denial report, the mobiletelephone 30 displays a playback denial message (S248).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the sequence of processing performed bythe mobile telephone 30 in service processing according to the secondembodiment. Each of the respective steps in this process is executed bythe control unit 349 of the mobile telephone 30.

First, as shown in FIG. 12, the two-dimensional barcode is read in bythe mobile telephone (S221). Next, the mobile telephone 30 judgeswhether or not content corresponding to the read two-dimensional barcode27 is stored in the non-volatile memory 348 of the mobile telephone 30(S222). At this time, if the mobile telephone 30 judges that contentcorresponding to the read two-dimensional barcode 27 is not stored inthe non-volatile memory 348, the mobile telephone 30 requests contentfrom the service server 10 according to the original information of thetwo-dimensional barcode 27 (namely, the access information) (S223). Atthe same time, the service server 10 judges whether or not playback ofthe content is to be permitted. If the playback is to be permitted, themobile telephone 30 receives content and metadata from the serviceserver 10. On the other hand, if the playback is not to be permitted,the mobile telephone 30 receives a playback denial report (S225). Atthis time, the mobile telephone 30 judges whether or not a playbackdenial report is received from the service server 10 (S227). If aplayback denial report is received, the mobile telephone 30 displays aplayback denial message on the LCD 344, and then the content is notplayed back (S251). On the other hand, if content and metadata arereceived from the service server 10 (namely, if playback is permitted),the received content and metadata are stored in the non-volatile memory348 in a mutually associated condition (S228), and then the receivedcontent is played back (S229).

Furthermore, according to the judgment in step S222, if it is judgedthat the content corresponding to the two-dimensional barcode 27 isstored in the non-volatile memory 348, the mobile telephone 30 furtherjudges whether or not updating of the content is necessary, according tothe metadata which is stored in the non-volatile memory 348 inassociation with the content (S232). More specifically, the mobiletelephone 30 judges whether or not updating of the content is necessarywhen the current date and time are passed the date/time of next update.If it is judged that updating of the content is necessary, the contentis requested from the service server 10 (S223). At the same time, if itis judged that updating of the content is not necessary, playbackpermission is requested from the service server 10, according to theoriginal information of the two-dimensional barcode 27 (namely, theaccess information) (S233).

Then, the service server 10 judges whether or not playback of thecontent is to be permitted, and then the mobile telephone 30 receives aplayback permission report or a playback denial report from the serviceserver 10, accordingly (S246). At this time, the mobile telephone 30judges whether or not a playback permission report or a playback denialreport is received (S247). If the report is a playback denial report,the mobile telephone 30 displays a message, which indicates that thecontent cannot be played back, on the LCD 344 without playback of thecontent (S252), and then deletes the content that has been stored in thenon-volatile memory 348 (S253). On the other hand, if the report is aplayback permission report, the mobile telephone 30 playbacks thecontent stored in the non-volatile memory 348 (S248).

Incidentally, when the service server 10 sends a playback permissionreport to the mobile telephone 30 in response to a playback permissionrequest which is sent from the mobile telephone 30 to the service server10 (S243), metadata 140 may be added to this playback permission report,and may be sent from the service server 10 to the mobile telephone 30.In this case, the mobile telephone 30 can always control playback of thecontent according to the most recent metadata. More specifically,delivery of the content is performed only upon playback for the firsttime, and only the metadata is delivered when played back for a secondor subsequent time. Since the volume of the metadata is small, thewaiting time for the user can be shorter in comparison with a case wherethe content is delivered, and hence increase in communications costs canbe restricted.

On the other hand, for preventing the basic charge from being generatednecessarily accompanying the occurrence of communications when thecontent is played back, it is also possible to set the mobile telephone30 to access the service server 10 only upon the first time that thecontent is played back.

As described above, the present embodiment is explained on a case wherethe service server 10 judges whether playback is to be permitted ordenied. However, it is possible to transmit the metadata from theservice server 10 to the mobile telephone 30 each time the access datais read, and to judge whether to permit or deny playback according tothe metadata which is received by the service server 10 from the mobiletelephone 30. More specifically, when a two-dimensional barcode is readin, the mobile telephone 30 sends the access information to the serviceserver 10. When this access information is received, the service server10 judges whether to send both of the content and metadata, whichcorrespond to the identification information ID of the accessinformation, to the mobile telephone 30, or to send only the metadata tothe mobile telephone 30. For example, if the content is not stored inthe mobile telephone 30 while the mobile telephone 30 requests thecontent, it is judged that the content and metadata are to be deliveredto the mobile telephone 30. On the other hand, if the content is storedin the mobile telephone 30 while the mobile telephone 30 requests themetadata only, it is judged that only the metadata is to be delivered tothe mobile telephone 30, without delivering the content. According tothis judgment result, if it is necessary to deliver both of the contentand metadata, both the content and metadata are delivered to the accesssource mobile telephone 30. If it is necessary to deliver the metadataonly, only the metadata is delivered to the access source mobiletelephone 30.

As described above, according to the update date and time (one of theupdate conditions), an example which is set by the ordering user isexplained, but the present invention is not limited to those. It is alsopossible to establish and manage the update date and time by a contentadministrator at the service server 10, by using a suitable tool(program). Additionally, it is also possible to update the content atregular intervals. The content may be updated at the regular time asfollowing: at one o'clock every afternoon, at every Monday morning, atthe second day of every month, or the like, for example. In theflowcharts shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 12, an example is described in thecase that the necessity for updating is judged when the two-dimensionalbarcode is read in, and that new content is downloaded from the serviceserver 10, but the present invention is not limited to those. It is alsopossible to download the content at a precise time, by using the systemdate and time of the mobile telephone, regardless of whether or not thetwo-dimensional barcode is read in.

Furthermore, according to examples described in the first and secondembodiment, the access information is recorded on the photographic print26 as a two-dimensional barcode, but the present invention is notlimited to those configurations. The access information may also bewritten into an IC tag which is formed to the paper. In this case, theprinter 20 is provided with a radio writing device which writes theaccess information by radio communications to the IC tag (i.e. RFID,referring to as Radio Frequency Identification). In addition, the mobiletelephone is also provided with a radio reading device which reads theaccess information from the IC tag by radio communications.

Moreover, the access information may also be recorded by being embeddedinto the image on the photographic print 26 in the form of digitalwatermark information. In this case, the mobile telephone has a functionfor reading in digital watermark information.

As described above, the present invention is also described in relationto a case where the user's communications terminal is a mobiletelephone, but the present invention is not limited to those. It mayalso be applied to a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or anothercommunications terminal.

It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limitthe invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, theinvention is to cover all modifications, alternate constructions andequivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

1-5. (canceled)
 6. A communications terminal, comprising: a contentplayer that plays content; a content requesting device that requestscontent from a server based on access information identifying therequested content; a receiving device that receives the content andmetadata associated with the content from the server; a storage devicewhich stores the received content and associated metadata; and aplayback control device that: controls the receiving device to receivethe content from the server and the content player to play back thecontent if the content is not stored in the storage device; and controlsthe content player to play back the content stored in the storage deviceif the content is stored in the storage device.
 7. The communicationsterminal according to claim 6, wherein the playback control devicejudges whether the content is stored in the storage device to determinewhether to control the receiving device to receive the content and themetadata from the server.
 8. The communications terminal according toclaim 6, wherein the metadata includes at least one of a frequency ofpermitted playback and a validity term of playback relating to thecontent.
 9. The communications terminal according to claim 8, whereinthe playback control device controls the content player to play back thecontent according to the metadata.
 10. The communications terminalaccording to claim 9, wherein the playback control device controls thecontent player to play back the content only if the frequency ofpermitted playback included in the metadata has not been exceeded. 11.The communications terminal according to claim 9, wherein the playbackcontrol device controls the content player to play back the content onlyif the validity term of playback in the metadata has not expired.
 12. Amethod for controlling content at a communications terminal having acontent player for playing content and a storage device for storingcontent, comprising: selecting content to be played back on the contentplayer; receiving the selected content and metadata associated with theselected content from a server based on access information identifyingthe selected content if the selected content is not stored on thestorage device; and storing the selected content and metadata associatedwith the selected content on the storage device; playing back theselected content stored in the storage device with the playback device.13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the receiving includesjudging whether the selected content is stored in the storage device todetermine whether to receive the selected content from the server. 14.The method according to claim 12, wherein the metadata includes at leastone of a frequency of permitted playback and a validity term of playbackrelating to the content.
 15. The method according to claim 14, whereinplaying back the selected content includes playing back the selectedcontent according to the metadata.
 16. The method according to claim 15,wherein playing back the selected content includes playing back theselected content only if the frequency of permitted playback included inthe metadata has not been exceeded.
 17. The method according to claim15, wherein playing back the selected content includes playing back theselected content only if the validity term of playback in the metadatahas not expired.